30 Lightweight JavaScript Plugins and Libraries from 2016

All released this year, the free JavaScript plugins and libraries on this page all offer a straightforward and specific function. There are no bloated all-in-one frameworks. Just useful, lightweight and problem-solving solutions to help make the web design and development process much easier and quicker for you.

As you would expect, there are plugins below for creating sliders, image galleries, responsive menus, modal windows, and many other common components. But you will also find plugins that offer a truly unique functionality, like sidebar margin notes, GIF previews, animated favicons, and much, much more.

baguetteBox.js

baguetteBox.js is a simple and easy to use responsive image lightbox script with swipe gesture support on mobile devices. it has been written in pure JavaScript.

ScrollReveal

The ScrollReveal plugin makes it super-easy to create web page scroll animations for both desktop and mobile browsers.

Marginotes

Marginotes takes your jQuery selection and adds notes to the margin with the text provided in HTML attributes. If jQuery is not your thing, there’s also a version available without it.

Loud Links

Loud Links is a lightweight JavaScript library for adding interaction sounds to your website. It does this by creating an HTML5 audio element and using it to play MP3 or OGG audio files.

Paul is the founder and editor of Speckyboy Design Magazine. He has many years experience within the web design industry and a passion for the latest web technologies and design trends. He lives in the small town of Inverness in the north of Scotland. Follow him on Twitter.